The Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Wednesday in the trial of Ousman Sonko, the former interior minister of Gambia, who faces charges of crimes against humanity, which he denies.
During the trial held in January and March, state prosecutors sought a life sentence for Sonko. The charges against him stem from alleged offences committed between 2000 and 2016 under the regime of former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh.
Ousman Sonko, aged 55, has been in Swiss custody since his arrest in January 2017, following his application for asylum subsequent to his dismissal from the Gambian government.
Throughout the trial in Bellinzona, southern Switzerland, Sonko’s defence team argued for his acquittal and demanded financial compensation for the years spent in detention.
The prosecution and civil parties presented evidence during the trial detailing Sonko’s alleged involvement in killings, torture, rape, and other sexual crimes.
Trial International, the NGO that filed the complaint leading to Sonko’s arrest, expressed relief among the complaining parties for having the opportunity to confront Sonko during the trial.
Sonko is accused of supporting, participating in, and failing to prevent systematic and generalised attacks carried out by Gambian security forces against regime opponents, according to Swiss prosecutors.
The trial was conducted under the principle of universal jurisdiction, allowing countries to prosecute alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide, regardless of where they occurred.
Regardless of the court’s decision, the verdict in Sonko’s case is expected to bolster efforts in The Gambia to prosecute crimes committed during the Jammeh regime. The Gambian government has endorsed recommendations to prosecute 70 individuals, including Jammeh, who currently resides in Equatorial Guinea. Additionally, legislation has been passed to establish the Office of the Special Prosecutor and a special court to address these cases.